Process and apparatus for making composite glass



Aug. 18, 1931. N. J. PENNING PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING COMPOSITE GLASS Filed Feb. 21, 19 29 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Aug. 38, 1931. J. PENNING 1,819,336

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING COMPOSITE GLASS Filed Feb. 21, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 18, 1931. N. J. PENNING 1,819,336

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING COMPO SITE GLASS Filed Feb. 21, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 at... Aug. 18, 1931 NITD s'rA'rEs monoms I. PENNING, or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB 'ro DUZELATE oonronarxou, A oonronarron or DELAWARE PROCESS APPARATUS FOR MAKING COMIPO$ITE GLASS Application filed February 21, 1929. Serial No. 341,643.

The invention relates to aprocess and apparatus for making. composite glass, wherein heat and pressure are applied to cause a joinder betweenthe glass and the reinforcing a material, preferably pyroxylin plastic, such as pyralm or celluloid. Composite glass ordinarily comprises two sheets of glass with the sheet of pyralin, celluloid or equivalent material cemented therebetween, although a reater number of sheets may be employed. t is the practice to assemble the sheetswith a coating of cement, such as gelatin, dried upon the surfaces of the glass sheets which are to be cemented to the pyralin or celluloid,

heat being subsequently applied to soften the gelatin and secure adhesion, at which time pressure is applied. Heretofore one of the most successful commercial methods employed has been to place the sheets to be composited in a rubber bag from which the air is exhausted after which the bag is placed in a pressure chamber to which water under ressure is supplied, such water being broug t up to the desired temperature for softening the cement during the pressing operation. The temperature of the water is then reduced, while the pressure in the chamber is maintained, so that the composited sheets are cooled under ressure. This method of com- 80 positinginvo ves a relatively high labor cost mcident to the placing of the glass in the bags the sealing of the bags and the unsealing oi the bags and the removal of the glass therefrom. It is also wasteful because of the large heat losses incident to first heating the water in the pressure chamber and then cooling it. The present invention has for its objects the improvement of the process above described both in the matter of labor and the cost oi heating. By its use the requirement for the rubber ba heretofore employed is avoided, the perio of the heating and cooling cycle is reduced,and at the same time all the advanta es incident to the old process are retained? A further advantage secured by the of a process and apparatus of the present invention is the avoidance in a large measure of the thinning of thecelluloid .or pyralin at the edges of the sheet during the pressin operstion, such as is characteristic of the 11%) as stos, clam d in position by the bars 8 bag method. The method and apparatus are illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

wherein: Y

Figure 1 is a partial section and partial side elevation of a unit'embodying the invention. Fi 2 is a section on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1. ig. 3 is'a plan view of the unit with the cover removed. Fig. 4 is a side elevation at the upper end of one section of the pressure chamber with the cover removed. Fig. 5 is a 1perspective view of the assembled sheets wit e ge securing and protectin means applied thereto. Fig. 6 is an enlarge section on the line VI-VI of Fi 5. And Fig. 7 is a vertical section throng thebase of a modified form of unit having a plurality of pressing slots.

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate only a single compositmg unit, it being understood, however, that in practice, a large number of units may be 'used upon a rotating table, as shown in the patent to W. O. Lytle No. 1,698,371 and that the actuation of the various valves em= ployed in controlling heat and pressure may be made automatic in timed relation with the rotation of the table.

The unit, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, comprises a pair of cast platens 1 and 2 seated upon the base 3 (which may be the floor of a rotating table with a slot or chamber 4.- therebetween, w ichslot or chamber is de signed to receive the set of sheets '5 which are to be composited. The platens are preferably of cast iron with the pipes 6 and 7 embedded in the cast metal, so-a's to provide heating and cooling assages, as hereinafter described. The two p atens have ound. surfaces at their line of contact in or or to make a fluid-tight joint, and are secured together by the pairs of clamping bars 8 and 9 clamped together at their ends by the bolts 10. In or or to prevent an undue loss of heat, the outer faces of the platens are covered with la era 11 11 of insulating material, such as and 9. Additional clamping means are also provided at the edges 0 the platens in the orm of thebolts 12.

The slot or chamber 4 is partially filled r with a bath of mercury 13, whose level, as no indicated in Fig. 1, lies above the top of the sheets 5, when such sheets are forced down into the bath. The slot or chamber is made relatively narrow, in order to reduce the body of mercury to a minimum, and secure a corresponding reduction in the time required to heat the mercury and the sheets 5 carried therein to the temperature required for the pressing operation. The top of the slot or chamber is closed by means of the cover 14 secured in place by the bolts 15 pivoted to the lugs 16 (Fig. 4:) at the tops of the platens and working in slots in the ends of the cover, a packing stri 17 being provided in order to secure a tig t joint.

Pressure is supplied to the chamber 4 by means of an air pipe 18 connected to the passage 19 through the cover and provided with a valve 20.

Steam is supplied to the pipes 6 and 7 to heat the platens from the pipe 21, which pipe is connected to the upper ends of the pipes 6 and 7 by the Y connection 22. A two-way valve 23 governs the flow from the pipe 21. Similarly the lower ends of the pipes 6 and 7 are connected to the outlet steam pipe 24 by the Y connection 25, in which is located the two-way valve 26. A cooling medium, such as water, is sup lied to the up er ends of the pipes 6 and 7 rom the pipe 2 which is also connected to the casing of the valve 23, a movement of such valve 90 degrees in a clockwise direction, servin to out 01f the supply of steam and connect t e pipe 27 with the plpes 6 and 7. Similarl an outlet pipe 29 for the water is connects to the casing of the valve 26, and the handles of the valves 23 and 26 are connected by the bar 30 so that when the valve 23 is rotated 90 degrees, as above described, the valve 26 is similarly rotated and the lower ends of the pipes 6 and ,7 are connected to the pipe 29. The bar 30 is shown as provided with a roller 31 engaging a pgir of cam rails 32, so that the valves may operated by the movement of the table upon which the unit is mounted, although this bar ma be operated in any desired way, such as b and, in case the unit is mounted case.

A pair of strips 33, 33 of woven fabric (Fig. 1) looped around the set of sheets, are used in handling them and also serve as spacers to prevent the outer surfaces of the lass sheets from contacting with the faces 0 the platens 1 and 2, or pieces of rope may be used or this purpose, it being desirable that such means or 0t er suitable means, shall be used to center the sheets in the slot or chamber and prevent them from contacting with the platens.

In operation, the sheets of glass 34, 34 are assembled as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6 with a sheet 35 of reinforcing material, such as p ralin, therebetween, the inner faces of the g ass sheets having been coated with a thin layer ofcement, such as gelatin. To hold the sheets securely in assembled relation, strips 36 of gummed paper are preferably placed around the edges of the sheets. These strips are preferably provided at their central portions with strips of absorbent material 37, such as blotting paper, which permits a free outflow, during the pressing operation, of any air trapped between the sheets. The strips of paper prevent the application of fluid pressure to the joints between the sheets during the pressing operation, but are not essential in this connection, since the li uid to which they are exposed (mercury) oes not wet the sheets, as does water or other liquids heretofore used in similar pressing operations, and there is, therefore, no tendency of the liquid to work into the joints due to capillary action; The assembled sheets, with the spacing loops 33 applied thereto, are now inserted into the slot 4 and pressed down into the mercury to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the level of the mercury at such time lying above the upper edges of the sheets. The sheets may be held in submer ed position by a pair of coil springs 38 ig. 1) or other suitable means interposed between the edges of the sheets and the lower face of the cover 14. The ressure of the mercury during this operation is applied to the sheets progressively beginning at the lower portions thereof, so that any air trapped between the sheets is pressed upward and expelled as the sheets move down. The cover 14 is now applied and the sheets are ready for the application of the necessary heat and pressure. Pressure is applied by opening the valve 20, so that the desired pressure, ordinarily in the neighborhood of 150 pounds per square inch, is applied to the space above the bath of mercury. Since the mercury will not flow into the joints between the sheets, even when the use of the protecting strips is dis ensed with, there is no tendency of the liqui pressure at the edges of the sheets to offset or neutralize the effect of the pressure of the mercury on the sides of the sheets, so that such sheets are pressed together with the same force per square inch as that supplied from the air line. At the same time air pressure is applied, the valves 23 and 26 are moved to the positions shown in Fig. 1, so that there is a circulation of steam through the assages of the platens land 2. The heat 0? the platens is immedlately transmitted b the thin bodies of mercury to the sheets, an such sheets are brought to a temperature of from 235 to 250 degrees F., thus bringing the gelatin cement to an adhesive condition and softening the pyralin slightly. As soon as the proper temperature condition is secured, the valves 23 and 26 are shifted 90 degrees in a clockwise direction, thus cuttin off theflow of steam through the platens an substituting a flow of cooling water. When the sheets are reduced to a temthe use of the spacing loops 33, 33. A new set of sheets is inserted into the slot or chamber and the cycle repeated.

The cycle of operations, as above described can be carried through in a fraction of the time required in the rubber bag operation,

heretofore described, and at a fraction of the cost. required for heating and cooling re uired by such other operation. This having is due to the direct contact of the mercury with the glass; to the small volume of mercury which requires heatin and cooling; and to the high conductivity 0 the mercury as compared with water. The operation as a whole also involves a saving in time and labor, as compared with the rubber bag process, due to the fact that the labor of putting the sheets into bags, exhaustin the air from the bags, and removing the s eets from the bags, is avoided. The cost and maintenance of the bags is a very large item of expense connected with the old method of procedure which is avoided in the present method.

Fig. 7 illustrates a modification in that the unit comprises a plurality of chambers 39, 39, etc. This involves an economy in construction and operation, as the amount of insulation is reduced, as' well as the heat losses, and only five platens 40, 40, etc. are required for the four slots or chambers 39, 39, etc., whereas eight would be required for four slots or chambers if the construction of Figs. 1 and 2 were followed. The labor involved in handling the closure is also reduced as once cover can be employed for all four slots. The construction in other particulars parallels that of Figs. 1 and 2. Although mercury is the preferred liquid used in the operation, it is possible to use other fluid compositions having the same non-wetting roperty, as for instance, any of the alloys avm very low melting points. The use of Sue alloys, however, increases the danger of breakage incident to the relatively high temperature at which they must be maintained and eatly increases the dlfliculty of practicing t e method.

What I claim is:

1. A rocess of making a composlte glass plate, which consists in assembling alternatmg sheets of glass and tough reinforcing material having their opposing surfaces prepared so as to become attached together upon the application of heat and pressure and submergmg the assembled sheets 1n a bath of hot mercury under pressure.

2. A rocess of making a composite glass plate, which consists in assembling alternating sheets of glass and tough reinforcing material having their opposing surfaces prepared so as to become attached together upon the application of heat and pressure, placing the assembled sheets in a mercury bath, applying pressure to the mercury and alternately heating and cooling it while maintaining it in a quiescent condition.

3. A process of making a composite glass plate, which consists in assembling alternatingsheets of glass and tough reinforcing material having their opposing surfaces prepared so as to become attached together upon the application of heat and pressure, submerging the assembled sheets in a mercury bath in a pressure chamber applying fluid pressure to the chamber, and successively heating and cooling the bath by heating and cooling the walls of the chamber.

4. A process of making a composite glass plate, w ich consists in assembling alternating sheets of glassand tough reinforcing ma terial having their opposing surfaces prepared so as to become attached together upon the application of heat and pressure, placing the assembled sheets in a metallic bath, and applying pressure to said bath and'heatin it. 5. A process of making a composite glass late, which consists in assembling alternating sheets of glass and tough reinforcing material having their opposing surfaces prepared so as to become attached together upon the applicationof heat and pressure, placing the assembled sheets in a bath of liquid which is negative to capillary attraction, and applying pressure to said bath and heating it.

6. A process of making a composite glass late, which consists in assemblin alternatmg sheets of glass and pyroxylin p astic with a film of cement between the opposing sur faces of the sheets, placing the sheets in a mercury bath, and applying pressure to the mercury and heating it to cause the cement to sqften and join the sheets into a composite p ate.

7. Apparatus for making composite glass plates comprising a chamber for receiving the sheets of glass and reinforcing material to be 'oined together, a mercury bath in said chamr adapted to surround the assembled sheets when such sheets are placed in the bath, means for applying pressure to the bath, and means for heatin the bath.

8. Apparatus, or making composite glass plates comprising a chamber for receiving the sheets of glass and reinforcing material to be joined together, a mercury bath in said chamber adapted to surround the assembled sheets when such sheets are placed in the bath, means for applying pressure to the the sheets of glass and reinforcing material to be joined together, a mercury bath in said chamber adapted to surround the assembled sheets when such sheets are placed in the bath, means for applying pressure to the bath, means for heating the walls of the chamber so as to heat the mercury, and means for cooling the walls of the chamber so as to cool the mercury.

10. Apparatus for making composite glass plates comprising a chamber for receiving the sheets of glass and reinforcing material to be joined together, said walls having passages for the circulation of fluid therethrough, a mercury bath in said chamber adapted to surround the assembled sheets when such sheets are placed in the bath, means for applying pressure to the bath, and means whereby heating and cooling fluid may be successively circulated through said passages.

11. Apparatus for making composite glass plates comprising a chamber for receiving the sheets of glass and reinforcing material to be joined together, a mercury bath in said chamber adapted to surround the assembled sheets when such sheets are placed in the bath, means for applying air pressure to the bath, and means for alternately heating and cooling the walls of the chamber.

12. Apparatus for making composite glass plates comprising a narrow vertical chamber having its side walls provided with passages, a mercury bath in said chamber adapted to surround the assembled sheets when such sheets are placed in the bath, means for applying pressure to the bath, and means whereby heating and cooling fluid may be successively circulated through said passages.

13. Apparatus for making composite glass plates comprising a narrow vertical chamber having its side walls provided with passages, a mercury bath in said chamber adapted to surround the assembled sheets when such sheets are placed in the chamber means for applying air pressure to the upper end of the chamber and means whereby heating and coolin fiuid may be successively circulated throug said passages.

14. A process of making a composite glass plate, which consists in assembling alternating sheets of glass and tough reinforcing material having their opposing surfaces prepared so as to become attached together upon the application of heat and pressure, applying protecting means to the edges of the assembled sheets and subm'erging such sheets in a bath of hot mercury under pressure.

15. A process of making a composite glass plate which consists in assembling the alternate sheets of glass and tough reinforcing material having their opposing surfaces prepared so as to become attached together upon the application of heat and ressure, protesting the edges of the assembled sheets by subscribed my name this 6th day of February,

N. J. PENNING. 

